“TOURISM POWERHOUSE IN ASIA” – PBBM BOOSTING TOURISM IN THE PH

The Department of Tourism has built Tourist Rest Areas (TRA) in various places in the Philippines to encourage more tourists to the country's well-known attractions. Led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the inauguration of a tourist rest area in Pagudpud Ilocos Norte.

This is the ninth TRA in which the Tourism Infrastructure is partnered with the Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) and the local government unit (LGU) of Ilocos Norte.

Tourism rest areas on different provinces to promote tourism (Photo courtesy of Department of Tourism)

The TRA contains many chairs and tables that visitors can use if they want to eat or rest, there is also a pasalubong center where you can buy local products of the province. Charging stations for gadgets, free Wi-Fi and a tourism help desk if you have any questions about places to visit in the area. There is also a comfort zone for PWDs and a wide comfort room for men and women.

According to PBBM, this project will contribute a lot to further strengthen the country's tourism.

"We want to transform the Philippines into the tourism power house in Asia, we are in very steep competition. Thailand has done an extremely good job in promoting tourism, Korea has done a very good job in doing that, Indonesia the same thing, Vietnam the same thing,” President Bongbong stated.

Another TRA is expected to be opened in Baguio City this year while 22 others will also be built in different places in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

According to Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco, their project will also help the local economy of each region, "These tourist rest areas are envisioned as well to provide livelihood to our local small and medium enterprises, with the availability of a pasalubong center that will allow our guests to avail of local goods and wares.”

In order to further boost tourism in the country, President Marcos said that the government is fixing some regional airports and seaports as well as some roads and terminals for faster and more convenient travel of tourists to different places in the country.

"The Philippines is really beautiful, everywhere you look is beautiful. Maybe the cities are just not as nice. But once you leave the city you see the real Philippines, there is no place in the Philippines that's not beautiful.”

According to DOT data, the total number of international visitors to the Philippines was 5.45 million last year, they target to increase this number to 7.7 million by 2024.

Source: Presidential Communications Office

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